Purpose: We report the qualitative findings from a survey of elementary teachers regarding reading instruction. The purpose is to extend on quantitative findings in a previously described survey to gain a more in-depth understanding of Australian elementary teachers' approaches to the literacy block in their schools: how this is used, who makes…

As schools continue to strive to meet federal testing requirements, many schools have been looking at ways to improve. During the 1990's many school districts thought they had found the method, tool, or program, with which to accomplish this goal: the "block schedule". This study was a comparison of the teaching strategies and attitudes of…

This paper records one small school's adaptation of variable scheduling and the reactions of the school's staff and students to one year of the schedule's operation. The purpose of this experiential paper is to show how one school staff can cooperatively adapt a concept such as variable scheduling to its own needs, rather than to provide a…

In 1995 the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), Richmond (Virginia) commissioned a study of alternative high school scheduling modules to determine the effects of different schedules on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. This report presents the results of an analysis of a…

The guide, part of a series of committee reports relating to school band performance, organization, and equipment needs, is intended to assist band directors as they develop band music schedules. Major objectives of the handbook are to present attitudes of band directors and administrators toward scheduling and to offer scheduling suggestions. The…

This is a followup study of teacher perceptions regarding block scheduling. The original study was done in 1996 at a small city high school in a predominantly rural county in Ohio. At that time, lack of communication was found to be the central theme in the resistance that emerged. This paper is based on data from written responses to open-ended…

This study examined one public school system's change in its scheduling format from a seven-period day to block scheduling. This longer uninterrupted instructional time, usually lasting 90 minutes, provides for fewer classes and transitions per day, and the completion of more course credits during the school year. Participants were 200 high school…

A study of teacher perceptions regarding a proposal to adopt block scheduling was done at a small-city high school located in a predominantly rural county. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 selected teachers from the faculty of 41. Lack of communication was found to be the central theme in the resistance that emerged. This paper…

Describes how one new high school principal changed the school's traditional scheduling plan. Teachers liked the change and used scheduling as a tool for accomplishing various instructional goals as they emerged. Students noted potential pitfalls of changing schedules. The paper discusses how to accomplish successful schedule change. (SM)

This paper describes the 2-year outcomes of one high school's implementation of an intensive 4-block schedule. The study at Angola High School (Indiana) compared schoolwide grade-point averages (GPAs), standardized test scores, attendance data, and disciplinary records to school-baseline data from the 2 years prior to implementation of the block…

The use of four periods in the school day, as opposed to six, with each period 90 minutes in length is referred to as 4 X 4 block scheduling. In Virginia, as in many states, there is increasing interest in this kind of scheduling to deliver education that meets the instructional needs of students. In 1995-96, Western Branch High School (WBHS) of…

Evaluated in this study are 20 elementary school teachers' responses to a categorical statement concerning teacher decision-making. The statement used was: "Teaching depends on dividing the school day into chunks of time for each separate subject-matter area." Using the results, the way the 20 teachers talked is described and analyzed,…

A random sample of 55 faculty and 593 students in 28 classes was surveyed to determine class scheduling preferences for three-semester-hour courses and to relate them to existing scheduling patterns at Moraine Valley Community College. Fifty-five percent of the students preferred two 90-minute class sessions per week, 27% preferred one three-hour…

A tool for staff involved in scheduling for the small high school, this guide takes a look at priorities, schedule design and implementation, building the master schedule, and research approaches for better scheduling. Specific teacher and student responses to various schedules are tabulated. Methods of data analysis are presented with samples of…

In 1963 Stanford University selected Virgin Valley High School in southern Nevada as one of four pilot schools to use computerized modular scheduling. Schedules for 165 students and assignments for 14 teachers were developed at the Stanford University Computer Computation Center using 30-minute modules with a total of 80 modules per week. After…